Cyprus-Forum.com

[stevieuk1]

Hi this posting is not meant to offend anyone or be racist, but i would like to know other views of the way the english are perceived in Cyprus, I started work recently in Nicosia and felt right out of it, the people although not rude but just seem to ignore me, they may have a problem i'm not sure, the only nice people i spoke to were the people who worked in the bars and restaurants and maybe they put on a friendly front i don't know.
But my experience is that they put up with the english but don't particularly like them, am i wrong, unlucky or what, i know its a very mixed culture in nicosia itself with a big russian presence, but I wanted to meet and make friends with all nationalities and not run to the clusters of english working there, maybe i ask too much, i have only been over for 7 days so maybe i'm jumping the gun.
I am at moment back in the uk for a few days, and feel an urge to stay put. Can i ask for some views as i would like to be wrong on this, as it would help me either adjust or give up

[Get Real!]

Go to any country in the world and you’ll be ignored because racism is human nature. Have you ever asked the foreign communities in England what they had to put up with when they first arrived in your homeland?

The best way to deal with a foreign environment is to act like they do to fit in a lot quicker and not take anything personally.

[stevieuk1]

i take on board what you have said, and yes you may be right, maybe i'm looking something that comes in time, not with everyone. I will give it more time, and hope things get better

[Tim Drayton]

I have never been aware of any great anti-English sentiment in Cyprus. However, Cypriot society is very close-knit and inward looking. There are strong extended family and village networks which are closed to outsiders. I always think the Cypriots have adopted certain traits from all of the peoples who have occupied the island, and it seems to me that they have aquired the British reserve towards strangers. It will probably take longer than a week to make local friends.

[RichardB]

I have lived on and off in Nicosia for around 12 years out of the last 30

and have not noticed any particular 'racism' towards myself.

Perhaps that its because Nicosia is not a tourist area and not so many residents have the need to speak English or 'fight' for your custom that they may seem aloof.

Stick with it 7 days is hardly any time to judge a Cities residents-try and learn even a little Greek- and you will have a better life than in the UK or other parts of the Island

[Loukanico]

British army lads out on the town, have been known to rape and on rare occasions, KILL !!! People tend to remember bad stuff for a long time. It`s the same wherever you go. It only takes one major event by a small minority to give the rest of us a bad name.
Don`t give in to the minority and join them no matter how hard you are pushed by impolite locals. Let them know that there are still plenty of us good Brits left. Learn some polite local lingo, keep smiling and they will eventually accept you as one of the good Brits

[haplessboyrussell]

Stevieuk1 - as a Brit who's lived in Nicosia for the past two years, I wouldn't say I've experienced much anti-British feeling. Certainly, in my work in financial services, I think it probably adds a little prestige. But there is some negative feeling towards certain aspects of British involvement in Cyprus past and present - we did have a part to play in 1974 (let's not get into that on this thread!), we are largely responsible for ruining the pretty hamlet that was Agia Napa, and we've not given Akrotiri and Dhekelia back, despite the fact we don't need all that area.

All that said, nobody's ever tried to blame me personally for all this stuff, although after working for me for two months, my Greek-Cyp secretary did tell me she "normally hates British people, but you're alright"... I think that outlines who Loukanico says above.

I've had some pretty terrible customer service here in Nicosia - but I don't think that's anything to do with being British - I think the locals get the same treatment. In fact, there is one restaurant I visit with my (Cypriot) colleagues every Friday lunchtime, where we actually score them for rudeness on a weekly basis. But (that restaurant apart!) you'll find if you get recognised as a return customer in a shop, the manager will be your friend for life!

Cypriots tend to take a little longer to get to know than British people (partly because they don't drink anywhere near as much!), but in my experience the effort is worth making - my local friends are a very genuine bunch of people, and the sense of community here is much stronger than the UK once you are a part of it.

[Loukanico]

Stevieuk1 - as a Brit who's lived in Nicosia for the past two years, I wouldn't say I've experienced much anti-British feeling. Certainly, in my work in financial services, I think it probably adds a little prestige. But there is some negative feeling towards certain aspects of British involvement in Cyprus past and present - we did have a part to play in 1974 (let's not get into that on this thread!), we are largely responsible for ruining the pretty hamlet that was Agia Napa, and we've not given Akrotiri and Dhekelia back, despite the fact we don't need all that area.

All that said, nobody's ever tried to blame me personally for all this stuff, although after working for me for two months, my Greek-Cyp secretary did tell me she "normally hates British people, but you're alright"... I think that outlines who Loukanico says above.

I've had some pretty terrible customer service here in Nicosia - but I don't think that's anything to do with being British - I think the locals get the same treatment. In fact, there is one restaurant I visit with my (Cypriot) colleagues every Friday lunchtime, where we actually score them for rudeness on a weekly basis. But (that restaurant apart!) you'll find if you get recognised as a return customer in a shop, the manager will be your friend for life!

Cypriots tend to take a little longer to get to know than British people (partly because they don't drink anywhere near as much!), but in my experience the effort is worth making - my local friends are a very genuine bunch of people, and the sense of community here is much stronger than the UK once you are a part of it.

+1

Well said, that man. The G Cypriots are a great bunch of people, (generally) Of course there are a few bad eggs, but I`m not going to let them make me think all Cypriots are like them. Pre 1974, I didn`t know any T Cypriots but 2 years ago, while on holiday, I ventured to N. Cyprus where I managed to find a pool table and a fridge full of beer and half a dozen lads playing pool. I must say that the turkish lads were very friendly and well behaved. I had a great time even though they could not beat me at pool! I would love to come back to live in Cyprus one day. I had most of my upbringing there with lots of fond memories. After leaving Cyprus in 1979, people asked me where I was from. Well I used to be proud to say, `I was born in UK but my home is Cyprus`. Proud because of what Cyprus had to offer. Good weather, good beer and wine, but most importantly, good people.